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Newsdesk 2019
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RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 555 30th August 2019
Editor: Steve Rowland
mailto: sandsrowland@btinternet.com
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HEADLINE NEWS
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* Ralph Street in the World Orienteering Championships
* Trail race podium places
* Jonathan Moore 6th in Reykjavik Marathon
* Ben Anderson on the track
* Endurance Officials course
* Jim Forrest Obituary
* Coming up – Thomas Cup 4m handicap on September 7th, Surrey Road Relays
on the 14th
ATTENTION PLEASE
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JIM FORREST
Former Club Captain Jim Forrest died on July 16th after a long illness. Much
of the following is taken from the “12 of the Best” section of our website.
Jim was born in Guildford in 1943 and led a peripatetic childhood until his
parents eventually settled in Richmond. He attended Westminster School as a
day boy from 1957 and it was there that he was first introduced to
competitive running, though initially as a sprinter. A family holiday in
Switzerland inspired him to run on the mountain paths and on his return home
he took to regular jaunts in Richmond Park. One day in the Park he bumped
into Bill Bird and Alan Hedger who invited him to join Ranelagh, and he made
his club debut shortly after his eighteenth birthday in the mob match
against Orion Harriers in 1961.
After leaving school Jim went up to Oxford University to study chemistry. He
became Captain of the cross-country second team but just failed to secure a
blue. After graduating he taught in Lesotho for a year before taking up a
job as a research chemist with BP. He quickly decided that this was not the
life for him and retrained as a teacher. Part of his teaching practice was
at Latymer Upper School, and he helped to introduce a number of Latymer boys
to Ranelagh, including the 14 year-old Hugh Jones. Subsequently Jim taught
at Raynes Park HS and his recruits from there included Anthony Orr and David
Wright.
Jim was Club Captain from 1969 to 1977 and again for our centenary year
1980-81. He was also joint editor of the club Gazette from 1969 to 1975. In
1970 he became one of the club's first qualified coaches and advised many of
our first team runners in the 1970s and 80s. He was a regular first team
runner for many years, three times winning the Roffey Salver as the club's
first finisher in the National Championships. He clocked up 118 mob matches
- only four members have finished more. Latterly Jim rekindled an interest
in the longer distances, which had inspired him to run the famous Comrades
Marathon 55 miles course while he was in Africa. He completed the London to
Brighton in 6hrs 17mins, won the Ridgeway 40 miles, and set a record time of
11hrs 8mins 46secs for the South Downs Way solo, which stood unbeaten for
thirteen years.
Jim continued to run in handicaps and mob matches until his 70th year and
when his serious running days were over he became a regular club supporter
at League and Championship races until ill health made it impossible. The
large number of members attending the funeral attested to his popularity and
the high esteem in which he was held. “Gentleman” was the recurring theme of
the many tributes we received. David Wright adds: “Jim also brought numerous
athletes to Ranelagh from Twickenham AC, including Malcolm East. Taking all
into account, Jim had a massive influence on bringing young athletes to
Ranelagh in the 1970s, without whom the club would not have thrived the way
that it did.”
Our condolences go to Jim’s wife and family.
CLUBHOUSE ACCESS
Please note that all access to and from the clubhouse must be via our new
gate from the public footpath. Please do not cross the pub car park under
any circumstances.
THOMAS CUP 4 miles handicap
The Thomas Cup is the traditional Opening Run of the winter season – our
139th. It’s a 4 miles handicap in Richmond Park on Saturday 7th September at
3pm preceded by the annual club photo at 2.30pm. All members are welcome to
take part, register at the clubhouse by 2.30pm. More info on handicap races
and the Thomas Cup in particular here:.
SURREY COUNTY ROAD RELAYS
These will take place on Saturday 14th September on the usual course at
Wimbledon Park. There are races for senior Men and Women, M40, M50 and M60,
W35 and W45. Start time for all is 12 noon. Contact the Captains or team
managers if you’d like to run but please note that only Surrey-qualified
runners are eligible to compete this year.
ENDURANCE OFFICIALS NEEDED
Hon Sec Gordon Whitson writes:
“Would you be interested in becoming a UK Athletics certified Level 1 or
Level 2 Endurance Official, qualified to officiate at cross country and road
race events? Ranelagh has an acute shortage of certified officials which
unless addressed will increasingly affect the club’s ability to stage events
such as Surrey League cross country races and our open road races as England
Athletics continues to tighten its event licencing criteria.
The first stage on the pathway to becoming a certified UK Athletics
Endurance Official is to attend the Risk Assessment and Level 1 Endurance
Official Courses. The next courses in an accessible location are being held
at Lewes Athletics Clubhouse, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2XG on Sunday 29
September starting at 11.00am. I have signed up to attend and it would be
great to have some company from the club. The two courses cost a total of
£30 and the Club will reimburse these fees together with travel costs for
members who attend.
If you are interested in finding out more visit the England Athletics site here:
where you can sign up for the courses and find details on both the courses
and additional practical experience required to obtain certified status.
If you wish to discuss further with me please email me on
gordonaegli@hotmail.com
or call on 07583542050.
Gordon Whitson.”
MARSHALS
Separately from the Endurance Officials mentioned above, we need marshals
and officials for all our “home” races in Richmond Park. We don’t have too
many home fixtures this side of Christmas, but here they are, all on
Saturday afternoons in the Park:
Sep 7 Thomas Cup 3.8m / 6k handicap
Sep 28 Page Cup 5m / 8k handicap
Nov 2 Lee Cup Mob Match v Orion Harriers
If you can help at any of these races, please contact Andy Bickerstaff at
andy.bickerstaff@goodrunguide.co.uk.
NEW YOGA CLASSES WITH WIEBKE
Wiebke Kortum writes:
“From 2nd September onwards I will offer a regular yoga class in St Andrew’s
Church, near Ham Gate of Richmond Park. Classes will be on Mondays 7:15pm –
8:30pm and cost £10 each, or £9 if you book six classes. Ranelagh members
will receive a further £1 discount. This will be a Hatha-Yoga class for
beginners and intermediate students which follows a vinyasa-curve: starting
slowly, building to a peak and cooling down with a relaxation period at the
end. Each class will work towards specific goals - such as mobilising the
hips or finding length in the spine - through a well-considered yoga
practice which increases flexibility, range of motion, strength and balance.
Prior booking is required. Contact: wiebkeyoga@gmail.com.”
MEN’S VICE CAPTAIN
Jonathan Smith has stepped down from the joint men’s Vice Captaincy and in
his place James Riley will join existing VC Dave Lawley.
CLUB KIT
Our supplier for club singlets, men’s and women’s,. is iProsports. Details and orders:
TUESDAY NIGHT SOCIALS
Don’t forget that we meet for a casual drink after training on the first
Tuesday of each month. Venue is the Roebuck on Richmond Hill. All welcome.
THURSDAY NIGHT TRACK TRAINING AT OSTERLEY
The club is continuing to subsidise track sessions on Thursday evenings at
the Osterley track. All groups and all abilities are welcome. The sessions
are every Thursday 7.30-8.30pm. Link to the map is here:
FACEBOOK
Follow Ranelagh on Facebook.
WHAT’S COMING
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Our provisional winter fixture list is now up on our website here:.
More details of the following from the men’s Captains (ranelagh.men@gmail.com)
or the women’s Captain / Team Manager (ranelagh.women@gmail.com)
Saturday 7th September Thomas Cup 4 miles handicap in Richmond Park. All
welcome. Club photo at 2.30pm, race at 3pm.
Saturday 14th September Surrey County Road Relays at Wimbledon Park. Start
time 12 noon.
Sunday 22nd September South of England Road Relays at Crystal Palace
Saturday 28th September Page Cup 5 miles handicap in Richmond Park. 3pm
start
5km parkruns every Saturday at 9am and 2km junior parkruns weekly or monthly
on Sundays.
Venues, more details and registration at www.parkrun.com or
www.parkrun.org.uk/events/juniorevents/.
WHAT’S HAPPENED
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ORIENTEERING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 13th – 18th August in Ostfeld, Norway
Once again Ralph Street won selection for the British team to compete in the
World Orienteering Championships, this time taking place in his adopted
homeland of Norway. Ralph’s first job was to qualify for the Middle Distance
final, which he did, finishing a comfortable 6th in his heat. Then came the
final, where Ralph was top Brit in 19th place.
1 O Lundanes (Norway) 34.18
19 Ralph Street 38.30
The final event was the relay and Ralph brought the British team home in
17th place after taking over 18th.
1 Sweden 1:40.42
17 Great Britain & NI 1:54.30
HARBOUR WALLBANGER 7km Saturday 22nd June at Broadstairs
This win for the rocket back in June escaped the results net.
1 Ted Mockett 28.14
BMC REGIONAL OPEN TRACK MEETING Wednesday 14th August at Eltham
Ben Anderson continued his late track season, reducing his 800m season’s
best to 1:54.30.
800 metres race D
1 Ben Anderson 1:54.30
BMC GOLD STANDARD TRACK MEETING Wednesday 21st August at Watford
800 metres race B
1 S Jones (St Alb) 1:53.12
9 Ben Anderson 1:57.84
COMPTON 20m DOWNLAND CHALLENGE Saturday 17th August
The name says it all…Marie was 3rd W50.
1 A Ind (Newbury) 2:21.09
7 L Cooper (Bridgnorth) 2:27.45 (1st woman)
31 Suzy Whatmough 3:00.27 (7th woman)
45 Marie Synnott-Wells 3:05.53 (10th woman)
54 Phil Roberts 3:13.22
TWO TUNNELS HALF MARATHON Sunday 18th August at Bath
Nick and Mark both made the top ten in this tough trail race.
1 L Goldsworthy (unatt) 1:21.11
5 Nick Twomey 1:25.42
9 Mark Herbert 1:29.01
RUN THROUGH CHASE THE SUN WIMBLEDON COMMON 10km Wednesday 21st August
1 A Jaksevicius (Belgrave) 33.13
175 Roger Wallace 57.22
RUN THROUGH DULWICH PARK 10k Saturday 24th August
1 S Fear (unatt) 37.58
139 Roger Wallace 57.50
REYKJAVIK MARATHON, ICELAND Saturday 24th August
Jonathan Moore reports:
“I ran the Reykjavik Marathon last Saturday in a PB of 2:47:13, which was
good enough for sixth overall and first VM50. Clearly no Kenyans showed
up. The course itself was deceptively hilly and had more than its fair
share of hairpin bends and strange twists. The second half of the race was
pretty deserted and felt more like a solo run through Richmond Park than a
city marathon.”
1 A Petursson (Iceland) 2:23.08
6 Jonathan Moore 2:47.13
WOLDINGHAM HALF MARATHON Sunday 25th August at Caterham
Another off-road event. Eugenie McLachlan finished 11th overall and 3rd
woman.
1 A Ramsier (SLH) 1:35.07
3 A O’Brien (unatt) 1:46.04 (1st woman)
11 Eugenie McLachlan 2:00.31 (3rd woman)
48 Rachel Revett 2:31.18
CANTERBURY HALF MARATHON Monday 26th August
Ted Mockett reports:
“An absolute beast of a race with some serious hills, and, of course, it was
a touch on the warm side today. The hill at 10-11 miles was so steep I saw
the lad behind me walking up.”. Ted finished 3rd overall and 2nd M40.
1 E Bovingdon (I&I) 1:17.25
3 Ted Mockett 1:18.20
RUN THROUGH CHASE THE SUN BROCKWELL PARK 10km Wednesday 28th August
1 M Raddan (Bedford) 38.10
182 Roger Wallace 57.22
parkrun results...
Follow this link for the latest Ranelagh results:. Then follow
the “Previously” link at the bottom of the parkrun screen to access previous
weeks’ results.
FINALLY…
Why the Mexico City marathon attracts so many cheats:
Video:.
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